Damping adjuster

Abstract

A damping adjuster is disclosed herein. The damping adjuster includes an adjuster housing and an adjuster shaft. The adjuster shaft rotatable within the adjuster housing, the adjuster shaft comprising a variable flow area feature, the variable flow area feature formed annularly about a portion of the adjuster shaft, the variable flow area feature comprising a plurality of different flow area values therealong. The damping adjuster also includes a fluid flow path through the adjuster housing, wherein the fluid flow path includes the variable flow area feature of the adjuster shaft.

I claim: 
     
       1. A damping adjuster comprising:
 an adjuster housing; 
 a plurality of cross holes formed in said adjuster housing; 
 an adjuster shaft, said adjuster shaft rotatable within said adjuster housing, said adjuster shaft configured for a maximum rotation of less than 360 degrees within said adjuster housing, said adjuster shaft comprising a variable flow area feature, said variable flow area feature formed annularly about a portion of said adjuster shaft, said variable flow area feature comprising a plurality of different flow area values therealong; 
 a fluid flow path through said adjuster housing, wherein said fluid flow path includes said variable flow area feature of said adjuster shaft; 
 an adjuster knob configured to rotatably couple about said adjuster housing, said adjuster knob comprising:
 an adjuster shaft interface on a first side of an interior wall, said adjuster shaft interface to interact with a portion of said adjuster shaft, such that a rotation of said adjuster knob causes a related rotation of said adjuster shaft; 
 a ball interface on a second side of said interior wall, said ball interface comprising a plurality of features, each feature of said plurality of features to provide location; 
 an exterior wall; and 
 a tab about a circumference of a bottom of said exterior wall; 
 
 a cup in at least one of said plurality of cross holes formed in said adjuster housing; 
 a spring in said cup; and 
 a ball, wherein said spring is between a bottom of said cup and said ball, 
 
       wherein when said adjuster knob is coupled with said adjuster housing, said spring provides a spring force against said ball such that said ball is forced against said ball interface and said spring provides said spring force against an interior side of said bottom of said cup such that an exterior side of said bottom of said cup is forced against an inner side of said exterior wall between a top of said adjuster knob and said tab, such that said adjuster knob is rotatably coupled with said adjuster housing. 
     
     
       2. The damping adjuster of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hard stop detent formed in said adjuster housing; and 
 a rotational groove formed annularly about less than a complete revolution of an underside of said adjuster knob, wherein said adjuster knob is installed on said adjuster housing in an orientation such that a first end of said rotational groove will encounter said hard stop detent at a maximum first direction rotational position of said adjuster shaft and a second end of said rotational groove will encounter said hard stop detent at a maximum second direction rotational position of said adjuster shaft. 
 
     
     
       3. The damping adjuster of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hard stop detent formed in an underside of said adjuster knob; and 
 a rotational groove formed annularly about less than a complete revolution about said adjuster housing, wherein said adjuster knob is installed on said adjuster housing in an orientation such that a first end of said rotational groove will encounter said hard stop detent at a maximum first direction rotational position of said adjuster shaft and a second end of said rotational groove will encounter said hard stop detent at a maximum second direction rotational position of said adjuster shaft. 
 
     
     
       4. The damping adjuster of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said variable flow area feature formed annularly about said portion of said adjuster shaft such that a maximum rotation of said adjuster shaft in a first direction provides a minimal damper adjustment value, and said maximum rotation of said adjuster shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction provides a maximum damper adjustment value. 
 
     
     
       5. The damping adjuster of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 said variable flow area feature formed annularly about said portion of said adjuster shaft such that less than said maximum rotation of said adjuster shaft in said second direction opposite said first direction provides less than said maximum damper adjustment value. 
 
     
     
       6. The damping adjuster of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a spring at a base of said adjuster shaft such that said adjuster shaft is vertically moveable within said adjuster housing; 
 said adjuster shaft configured in a first vertical location within said adjuster housing to provide a normal fluid flow configuration; and 
 said adjuster shaft configured in a second vertical location, different than said first vertical location, within said adjuster housing to provide a lockout fluid flow configuration.